10 November 2025 - The White Stripes - Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground

I remember the first time I heard the White Stripes (from Detroit, Michigan - which of course is today's state).  

October 19th, 2002.  Technically, it was probably October 20th, in the early morning hours.   My ex-wife and I were in bed and watching SNL. We saw the musical guest was someone we had never heard of, and she wanted to turn it off before the musical guest came on.  

I insisted we not do that.  And, for once, I won one. 

This is what we were greeted with.

She didn't like them. I LOVED it. (This may have been part of the reason she's my ex-wife now) I was completely into this, and wanted to hear more, so I that week went seeking out more of their music - including the studio version of this song, with lyrics by Jack White and music by Jack and Meg White.  

For the uninitiated, yes, those are their government names.  Jack was born Jack Gillis but took his wife's name when they got married in 1996.  And yes, Meg was that wife, and by this point, they had been divorced for two years - clearly amicably, but the band didn't last forever.

The destruction projected in this video tells me that it was a very personal song for both of them - it is speculated that it was about the end of their marriage, although neither has confirmed or denied that.    

Edit: They were literally just inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which I did not know when I wrote this post.  Congratulations!

7 November 2025. - Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. ft. Faith No More - Another Body Murdered

I've talked about a lot of these days being hard.  

I wasn't looking forward to American Samoa.  

However, it wasn't hard at all.  

Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. are a hip-hop group from American Samoa (although they were based in California for most of their career).  This was probably their best known song, a collaboration with San Francisco band Faith No More.  An early hip-hop/rock fusion song, it was a sign of things to come for music - a preview of later acts such as Limp Bizkit.  

And they bring pride to the islands.  

6 November 2025 - Garbage - Only Happy When It Rains

I know exactly what you're thinking right now if you know this band.

"Shirley Manson is Scottish."

She is.   

The other members of the band are NOT - and Butch Vig is from Wisconsin.  Garbage was formed at his studio in Madison, WI. 

That's true.  It was called Smart Studios, and it was founded in 1983.  

So, of course, with three producers and a hell of a dynamic vocalist, you know they put on a great live show..... and they did.  This was from a festival in 1996.

But I'm sure ten years later, at Glastonbury 2005, they slowed down.... right?

Wrong.

Don't be fooled by this 2017 performance, guys.  Keep listening.  They, again, bring the angst and energy.

They are currently on a tour that they are alluding to being their last.... in 2025.   But, let's be clear - they're not stopping the touring because of their energy levels.  It's economic conditions.  But I think they're not done yet.   

5 November 2025 - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Refugee

Florida was too big a state for just one post - and people keep moving there.  

I don't know why.

They have alligators. 

However, they also had Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers (from Gainsville), who had a TON of hits, including this Top 20 hit from their 1980 breakthrough album Damn The Torpedoes.  Co-written by Tom Petty and Mike Campbell, it was reportedly a tough song to record, with perfect being the enemy of good and a LOT of takes needed to get the song just right.

But they DID get it right, and the results brought us a raw, noisy, brash song. 

This song was a live favorite, and every time they did a benefit concert of some sort - like Farm Aid in 1985 (and Live Aid, too, by the way), this song was a staple.

Petty consistently said that this song was really hard on his voice.

And yet, in 2012, when they were STILL performing the song live, he STILL sang it largely in the same key.

5 November 2025 - Pitbull ft. TJR - Don't Stop The Party

Nowadays, big cities have more than one area code.  

Miami, FL is no exception.  

But it's usually more prestigious to have the original one, from when there was only one.

Miami's was 305.  

Mr. Worldwide is also Mr. 305.  

That's it.  That's the post.  

It's not actually the whole post.

Pitbull has made a career representing Miami and making fun pop/dance music.  He's not making a career winning awards (although he has plenty - including a Grammy for his 2016 album Dale which, for my English speakers, has two syllables), but rather, making fun, exciting music and putting on a hell of a show.

And you cannot deny it - this is a hell of a show. 

4 November 2025 - Chappell Roan - HOT TO GO!

Darin Chappell is a Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives.  He represents the state's 137th House District - which is the Springfield, MO area.  

He's probably better known for being Chappell Roan's (maternal-side) uncle, though.  She grew up in Missouri....

.... so when it came time to record a video for the seventh and final single from her debut album, The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, it completely made sense that she'd be bringing it home to Springfield, MO - which is where this video was recorded.  Also, yes, those are really her grandparents.  No word if her uncle ended up on the cutting room floor.  

Also, this is a fun song.  C'mon now. AND IT HAS A DANCE!!!!

You know, there are a lot of live performances I could have chosen here.   

So why did I choose the one she did with Olivia Rodrigo in a guest starring appearance?

Because 1) Chappell Roan got her big break as Rodrigo's opening act - but this was well after that.  2) This looks like two old friends GENUINELY having fun together.   

3) I wanted to save this impressive performance from Reading 2025 with literally 90,000 people doing the dance for last.

3 November 2025 - Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billie Joe

Choctaw Ridge is a REAL place in Mississippi.  So, by the way, is the Tallahatchie Bridge - it goes over the river of the same name in Money, Mississippi.

Literally Bobbie Gentry on the Tallahatchie Bridge in 1967

Bobbie Gentry was a great country songwriter who wrote this song.  The cool Southern Gothic classic would provide the title for her debut album in 1967, and it would go on to become her biggest (although not nearly only) hit. It was a top 20 country hit in the United States, but more notably, it was a #1 pop hit, and the #3 biggest pop hit of 1967.  

"Ode To Billie Joe" also won three Grammy Awards for Gentry - including Best New Artist in 1968. Although she'd be nominated again, she'd never win another. 

The song was a massive success and defined the rest of Gentry's career.   This performance from the BBC, interspersed with footage of her on... probably the Tallahatchie Bridge.... was lost for years, but it isn't anymore, and we bring it to you.

Here's another live performance from The Andy Williams Show in the early 1970s.  Her cool, raspy voice matched well with the literal true crime drama she wrote.... and this performance is captivating.